released january 2016 16 -...

Real Help for Addicted Offenders:

Emerging Evidence from the Calgary

Drug Treatment Court

Released January 2016 16

08 Fall

For additional information contact:

Arla Liska, CEO - Calgary Drug Treatment Court Society

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Calgary Drug Treatment Court Crime Reduction Outcomes

Fact Sheet

The CDTC has been in operation since 2007, providing the only community alternative to incarceration for non-violent drug-addicted offenders whose crimes are driven by drug addiction. CDTC is an evidence-based program that integrates court intervention and treatment services to end drug-driven crime and assist participants to return to family, work and community.

The study, beginning April 1, 2010, followed the progress of 36 participants and provides a review of their pre- and post-program convictions. Prior to entering the program, graduates collectively participated in criminal activities leading to 1279 convictions. Following graduation only 62 new convictions had occurred and additionally, 69.4% of the graduates had no new convictions at the completion of the study.

CDTC Crime Related Outcomes (Graduates)

The cohort of interest in this study includes 36 CDTC participants who graduated from the program during the 5-year period between April 1, 2010 and March 31st, 2015. Post-graduation crime involvement was tracked to March 31st, 2015.

Data on criminal convictions incurred by this cohort showed:

o 69.4% (25 of 36) had no new criminal convictions since graduation;

o Graduates had a total of 1,279 convictions pre-admission and 62 post-graduation. (The time that elapsed between graduation and March 31, 2015 for the group ranges from 1.5 to 58.0 months and averages 19.1 months). The number of total convictions per graduate prior to their involvement in the program ranges from 2 to 102 and averages 35.5 previous convictions;

o When comparing only those convictions incurred during the same length of time prior to admission as the length of time elapsed post-graduation for each participant, there is a total reduction in convictions from 339 to 62. The number of convictions per graduate prior to admission ranges from 2 to 20 and averages 9.4;

o The number of convictions per graduate in the period following graduation from the program ranges from 0 to 16 and averages 1.7, when using the range of time elapsed between each participant’s graduation and March 31, 2015;

o Offences committed prior to admission were of a more severe type than those committed following graduation:

Prior to admission: 37.3% theft related 30.9% administrative 12.9% drug-related 70.8% of theft-related offences were committed by 10 people

Since graduation: 54.8% administrative 33.9% theft related 8.1% drug related

71.4% of theft related offences were committed by 2 people

A recent report by the Calgary Police Service on all CDTC participants at March 31, 2015 shows that 19/41 (46.3%) graduates have had no contact with police since graduating from the program, and an additional 12 (29.3%) had between 1 and 3 contacts following graduation. The number of police contacts per graduate prior to admission to the program ranged from 0 to 210, and averaged 20.7 for this same group. Those with 3 or fewer contacts with police since graduation represent 75.5% of all CDTC graduates at June 29, 20151.

CDTC Target Population Aligns with Greatest Need & Community Impact

The program’s overall graduation rate during the 5-year period of the study is 46.5% of total admissions. The graduation rate has increased somewhat over time, reaching 50.0% during the most recent reporting period (2014-2015).

Admissions to the program have increased during each year of the study. Admissions in the final year (n=31) were 120% greater than during the first year (n=14). Admissions were halted in February and March of 2015 due to the announcement of a funding reduction by the provincial government, and would otherwise have been larger in this final year.

CDTC targets offenders with high needs. At the time of admission: o 62% of participants had not graduated from high school; o 47% were living in a homeless shelter or on the street; o 73% were unemployed; and o 83.3% were youth (ages 13- 24) at the time of their first conviction2.

The majority of pre-admission offence types are labour-intensive for police and legal systems – property/theft (37.3%) and drug offences (12.9%). “Reductions in [property crime] play a significant role in the reduction of the overall crime rate for the city3.”

80% of the federal offender population have a serious substance abuse problem at the time of admission. Over half of federal offenders report that alcohol or drug use was a factor in the commission of their offence4.

Cost Avoidance & Cost Savings

On average, participants (n=28) self-reported a ‘typical’ cost of $2,070 per week to feed their drug addiction at the time of admission to CDTC. Assuming the estimated street value of stolen goods (1/5), this calculation indicates cost savings as high as $10,350 per week for each successful participant who used the sale of stolen goods as their primary means to purchase drugs.

“The average cost to keep an inmate incarcerated is $117,788 per year…Federally sentenced offenders are increasingly serving longer portions of their sentence behind bars”5. All CDTC participants face 1-3 years’ incarceration, which means that for every participant who is successful in the program, a minimum of $117,788 is avoided in the cost of incarceration alone.

1 Calgary Police Service. (June 29, 2015). Drug Treatment Court - Recidivism Rates.

2 Hoffart, Irene. (2015). CDTC Evaluation Report.

3 Calgary Police Service. (2008-2012). Annual Statistical Report.

4 Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator of Canada. (2013-2014).

5 Ibid.

4 REAL HELP FOR ADDICTED OFFENDORS – EMERGING EVIDENCE FROM THE CDTC

December, 2015

5-Year Review of Pre-Post Convictions

Calgary Drug Treatment Court Society

October 2015

INTRODUCTION This report provides information regarding criminal offence activity for 36 participants of the Calgary

Drug Treatment Court Society who graduated during the 5-year period from April 1, 2010 to March 31,

2015. Information is presented regarding graduates’ age and gender, the time free from convictions

following graduation, and the number and types of convictions incurred before and after graduation

from the program.

The data show that 69.4% of CDTC graduates have no new convictions since graduation. (One graduate

who died following graduation was not included in the study in order to avoid distorting the results. This

graduate had no new convictions following graduation, at time of death). Graduates included in the

study have a total of 1,279 convictions prior to participation in the program (over an average 15.3

years), and a total of 62 convictions since graduation (average 19.1 months). Convictions prior to

involvement in the program range from 2 to 102 and average 35.5. Post-program convictions range from

0 to 16 and average 1.7.

When considering only convictions incurred during the same period pre and post for each individual,

graduates had a total of 339 convictions prior to entering the program. Convictions during this period

range from 2 to 20 and average 9.4.

The greatest portion of post-program convictions (54.9%) are of the ‘administrative’ type (i.e. failure to

appear, breach of probation), while the greatest proportion of pre-program convictions (69.2%) reflect

greater severity and risk to the community (i.e. theft, trafficking in scheduled substances, break and

enter, weapons-related offences).

Data for this report was obtained from the JOIN system. Special thanks to CDTC representatives Alisa

Weber, Crown Counsel, and Jacqueline Abbott, Crown Prosecutor, for providing the data required for

this report.


1. AGE AND GENDER

1.1 Gender

Of the total sample participants (n= 36), 27 (75.0%) are male, and 9 (25.0%) are female.

Table 1: Gender

Graduates

Gender Number Percentage

Male 27 75.0%

Female 9 25.0%

1.2 Age at time of Admission

Most participants in this sample were in the 30-39 age range (38.9%), followed by the 20-29 age range

(27.8%) and 40-49 age range (25.0%) at time of admission.

Table 2: Age at admission

2. HISTORY OF CONVICTIONS

This section provides information regarding all convictions for program graduates included in the study,

to March 31st 2015, both prior to and following admission to the program.

A list of all criminal code convictions held by graduates is attached as Appendix A. Offences are grouped

into 10 categories: administrative; drug-related; theft-related; fraud/forgery/counterfeit; prostitution-

related; assault-related; weapons/firearms-related; driving-related; obstruction-related; and mischief

and disturbance-related.

Age Range # (%) Males # (%) Females

# (%) of Total

Sample

20-29 6 (16.7%) 4 (14.3%) 10 (27.8%)

30-39 11 (30.6%) 3 (8.3%) 14 (38.9%)

40-49 7 (19.4%) 2 (5.6%) 9 (25.0%)

50-59 3 (8.3%) 0 3 (8.3%)

Total 27 (75.0%) 9 (25.0%) 36 (100%)

2.1 Pre-Program Convictions

This section provides information regarding graduates’ convictions prior to participating in the program.

Charges at entry to the CDTC are included, as participants plead guilty to these charges at admission and

are sentenced for them at discharge.

The program graduates included in the study (n=36) had a total of 1,279 convictions that were incurred

prior to program involvement (15.3 years on average). The number of convictions per graduate ranges

from 2 to 102 and averages 35.5 (median = 36). The majority of offences committed by graduates prior

to entering the program, were theft-related (477, or 37.3%) and administrative offences (395, or 30.9%).

Drug-related offences were the third most common type (165, or 12.9%), followed by fraud-related (59,

or 4.6%) and driving-related offences (51, or 4.0%).

Table 3: Pre-program Convictions by Graduate and Type of Offense

Grad

uate

#

Ad

min

Dru

g

The

ft

Fraud

Pro

stitutio

n

Assau

lt

We

apo

ns

Drivin

g

Ob

structio

n

Misch

ief

Total

1. 14 4 1 19

2. 15 2 49 1 5 3 1 76

3. 2 12 1 1 1 2 1 20

4. 19 9 6 4 2 40

5. 15 7 12 3 1 2 40

6. 19 11 4 1 35

7. 8 2 2 2 14

8. 3 2 2 7

9. 20 3 2 1 5 4 3 38

10. 15 1 7 1 24

11. 7 5 3 3 1 19

12. 11 22 4 2 3 42

13. 12 1 11 2 26

14. 23 4 26 4 1 2 5 1 66

15. 5 5 1 1 12

16. 16 4 71 2 1 1 95

17. 15 3 31 2 1 9 2 4 67

18. 3 17 13 2 1 36

19. 3 15 1 2 1 1 23

20. 4 1 11 2 2 20

21. 1 3 13 3 1 21

22. 9 22 4 1 13 1 50

23. 2 11 2 1 16


Table 3: Pre-program Convictions by Graduate and Type of Offense (continued)

Grad

uate

#

Ad

min

Dru

g

The

ft

Fraud

Pro

stitutio

n

Assau

lt

We

apo

ns

Drivin

g

Ob

structio

n

Misch

ief

Total

24. 10 12 1 1 1 25

25. 16 2 13 4 2 1 38

26. 24 3 27 3 1 5 2 65

27. 13 10 8 1 3 5 1 1 42

28. 1 1 2

29. 7 3 16 10 1 37

30. 17 7 8 2 1 1 36

31. 3 2 5

32. 8 30 1 1 2 42

33. 37 5 20 2 2 1 67

34. 19 11 51 4 2 4 8 3 102

35. 1 3 4

36. 1 2 1 2 1 1 8

Total 395 165 477 59 15 31 33 51 35 18 1279

2.2 Age at First Conviction

The majority of graduates (83.3%) were youth (defined as ages 13- 24), at the time of their first

conviction. One-third was aged 16-18 (33.3%), a significant percentage was 19-24 (27/8%), and almost a

quarter (22.2%) was in the 13-15 year age range when first convicted.

Table 4: Age at first conviction by gender

Age Range # (%) Males # (%) Females

# (%) of Total

Sample

13 - 15 6 (16.7%) 2 (5.6%) 8 (22.2%)

16-18 10 (27.8%) 2 (5.6%) 12 (33.3%)

19-24 7 (19.4%) 3 (8.3%) 10 (27.8%)

25-29 2 (5.6%) 1 (2.8%) 3 (8.3%)

30-39 2 (5.6%) 1 (2.8%) 3 (8.3%)

2.3 Post-Graduation Convictions

Post-completion convictions were incurred by 11 of 36 graduates (30.6%). Approximately 7 of 10 had no

new convictions. No graduates incurred convictions during their time in the program.

The 11 graduates who had post-graduation convictions committed a total of 62 post-program

convictions. The number of convictions held by each re-offending graduate included in the study ranged

from 0 to 16 and averages 1.7 (median = 5). Over half of graduates’ post-completion convictions were of

an administrative type (n=34, or 54.9%), and approximately one-third were theft-related (n=21, or

33.8%). Three graduates (27.2%) had 9 or more post-treatment convictions and 4 (36.4%) had either one

or two convictions. One graduate had only one administrative conviction.

The following table summarizes all post-graduation convictions by type during the reporting period. At

March 31st 2015, one graduate had outstanding charges (2) for mischief [430(2) (A)] dated January 16,

2015. This graduate completed the program on December 22, 2011 and has no post-graduation

convictions. No other graduates had outstanding charges at March 31st, 2015. Charges that were

dismissed, withdrawn or stayed are not included in the study.

31%

69%

Post-Program Convictions

Convictions

No new Convictions


Table 5: Summary - Post-graduation Convictions

Dates -

Graduation to 1st

Conviction

Time from

Graduation to New

Convictions

First Convictions since

Graduation

Subsequent Criminal

Convictions

1

July 22/2010 - Aug. 3/2012

743 days (or 24.4 months)

145(3) (Admin) 355(B) (Theft-related)

CDSA 5(1) (Drug related) 95.1 (Weapons-related)

2

Nov. 18/2010- Aug. 30/2012


733.1(1) (Admin) 145(2)(A) x 3 (Admin) CDSA 4(1) (Drug-related)

N/A

3

May 12/2011- Sept. 6/2011


733.1(1) x 3 (Admin) 733.1(1) x 2 (Admin) 145(2) (Admin) 145(3) (Admin) 145(2)(a) (Admin) 733.1 (1) (Admin)

4

Jan. 12/2012- Dec. 1/2012


733.1 (Admin) N/A

5 Mar. 17/2011- July 13/2012


213(1)(c) (Prostitution) 733.1(1) (Admin) 145(2)(a) (Admin) 733.1(2) x 2 (Admin) 145(2)(A) (Admin)

6

Jan. 24/2013 - Mar. 3/2015


351.1 (Theft related) N/A

Table 5: Summary - Post-graduation Convictions (continued)

Dates - Graduation to 1

st

Conviction

Time from Graduation to New Convictions

First Convictions since Graduation

Subsequent Criminal Convictions

7

Jan. 24/2013 - July 11/2014


733.1 x 2 (Admin) 811 x 3 (Admin) 348(1)(b) x 5 (Theft related) 355(A) (Theft related) 145(4) x 2 (Admin) 344(B) x 3 (Theft related)

N/A

8

Nov. 1/2012 - May 27/2014

397 (or 13.0 months)

348(1)(E) x 5 (Theft related) 334(B) (Theft related) 145(3) (Admin) 733.1 (1) x 2 (Admin)

N/A

9

May 30/2013- Feb. 27/2015


334(B) x 2 (Theft related) N/A

10

Jan. 23/2014- May 23/2014


733.1(1) x 2 (Admin) 355(1) (Theft related) CDSA 4(2) (Drug related)

145(1)(B) (Admin) 145(2)(A) (Admin) 334(B) (Theft related) DTC Sentence Revoked

11

Jan. 23, 2014- Aug. 27/2014


CDSA 5(1) x 2 (Drug related) N/A

Average = 13.1 months

Table 6: Post-Graduation Convictions by Offence Type (Graduates)

Ad

min

Dru

g

The

ft

Fraud

Pro

stitutio

n

Assau

lt

We

apo

ns

Ob

struct

Misch

ief

Total

1. 1 1 1 1 4

2. 4 1 5

3. 9 9

4. 1 1

5. 5 1 6

6. 1 1

7. 7 9 16

8. 3 6 9

9. 2 2

10. 4 1 2 7

11. 2 2

Total 34 5 21 0 1 0 1 0 0 62


2.3 Post-Graduation Convictions by Age and Gender

2.3.1 Age Range by Status of Post-Graduation Convictions

The majority of graduates with new convictions were in the 30-39 age range (54.5%).

Table 7: Age range by status of post-graduation convictions

Age Range No New Convictions

New Convictions

Total graduates

20-29 7 3 10

30-39 8 6 14

40-49 7 2 9

50-59 3 0 3

Total 25 11 36

2.3.2 Gender by Status of New Convictions

Post-program convictions were incurred by 33.3% of female graduates and by 29.6% of male graduates.

Table 8: Gender by status of post-graduation convictions

Gender No New Convictions

New Convictions Total graduates

Female 6 (16.7%) 3 (8.3%) 9

Male 19 (52.8%) 8 (22.2%) 27

Total 25 11 36

3. TIME FREE FROM CONVICTIONS

3.1 Graduates with no new Convictions

The time free from charges for those with no new convictions ranges from 1.5 months to 58.0 months

(or 4.8 years), and averages 21.7 months. There are 20 graduates (55.6%) with no new convictions for

approximately one year (11.6 months) or greater, and 11 graduates (29.6%) with no new convictions for

2 years or greater.

Table 9: Time free from Convictions - Graduates with No New Convictions

Graduation Date Time between Graduation and March 31, 2015

1 May 27, 2010 1769 days (or 58.0 months)

2 July 11, 2011 1349 (or 44.2 months)

3 December 22, 2011 1195 days (or 39.2 months)

4 March 22, 2012 1104 days (or 36.2 months)







11 Feb. 21, 2013 768 days (or 25.2 months)

12 May 30, 2013 670 days (or 22.0 months)

13 August 15, 2013 593 days (or 19.4 months)

14 October 10, 2013 537 days (or 17.6 months)


16 January 23, 2014 432 days (or 14.2 months)

17 January 23, 2014 432 days (or 14.2 months)

18 April 10, 2014 355 days (or 11.6 months)



21 June 26, 2015 278 days (or 9.1 months)

22 June 26, 2015 278 days (or 9.1 months)


24 February 12, 2015 47 days (or 1.5 months)

25 February 12, 2015 47 days (or 1.5 months)

661.04 days (or 21.7 months post-graduation

3.2 Time free from convictions - Graduates with New Convictions since Graduation

As shown in Section 2.2, Table 5, the period of time free from convictions for those with new convictions

since graduation ranges from 2.8 to 25.2 months and averages 13.1 months. In 6 of 11 cases, there were

no new criminal convictions at one year post-graduation.

3.3 Time Free from Convictions - All Graduates (Combined)

Combined, graduates with and without new convictions since graduation (n=36) were free from

convictions following the program for an average of 19.1 months during the period of the study.


Table 10: Time free from convictions - all graduates

Category # of Graduates

Range in Time (in months)

Average Time (in months)

Convictions since graduation 11 2.8 - 25.2 13.1

No new convictions 25 1.5 - 58.0 21.7

Combined - all graduates 36 1.5 - 58.0 19.1

4. LIMITATIONS TO THE STUDY

There are some limitations to this study.

The study includes a limited sample size. The program intends to update this report in future

years, and these update will provide increasingly useful information over time.

Data for this study are gathered from the JOIN system, which includes data on criminal charges

and convictions in Alberta only.

This study does not include a control group or comparative data on outcomes for offenders who

did not participate in the CDTC and received incarceration alone. The program hopes to benefit

from access to such comparative data in the future.

5. SUMMARY - COMPARISON OF PRE-PROGRAM AND POST-PROGRAM CONVICTIONS

CDTC graduates had a total of 1,279 convictions prior to participation in the program (average 15.3

years), and a total of 62 convictions since graduation (average 19.1 months). Convictions prior to

involvement in the program range from 2 to 102 and average 35.5. Post-program convictions ranged

from 0 to 16 and average 1.7. When considering only convictions incurred during the same period pre

and post for each individual, graduates had a total of 339 convictions prior to entering the program.

Convictions during this period range from 2 to 20 and average 9.4.

APPENDIX A

List of Criminal Code Convictions of CDTC Participants by Category

All criminal code convictions incurred by graduates in the sample are included in the chart below.

Criminal code offences are grouped into 10 categories.

Category of Offense

Criminal Code and Offense

Drug-related 41(1) FD Act - Possession of a restricted drug

FD Act 48(2) - Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking

NC Act Sec 3(1) - Possession of a narcotic

NC Act Sec 4(1) - Trafficking in a narcotic

CDSA Sec 4(1) - Possession of a schedule II substance

CDSA Sec 4(2) - Possession of a schedule II substance for the purpose of trafficking

CDSA Sec 5(1) - Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance

CDSA Sec 5(2) - Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking

Food and Drug Act 41(1) - Possession of a restricted drug

423(1)(D) Conspiracy to Traffic in Restricted Drug

Theft-related: *294(A) CC - Theft over $200/$1,000

*294(b) CC - Theft under $200/$1,000

*306 - Break, Enter and Theft

*313(a) - Possession of property obtained by crime over $200

333.1 - Motor vehicle theft

334(A) CC - Theft over $5,000

334(B) CC - Theft under $5,000

342(1) CC - Use of credit card

344(b) CC - Robbery

348(1) CC - Break and Enter with intent [Also 306(1)(a)]

348(1)(b) CC - Break, Enter and Theft [Also 306(1)(b)]

348(1)(b) CC - Break and Enter, Commercial Premises

348(1)(B) - 430 CC - Break, Enter and Commit Mischief

349(1) CC - Unlawfully in a dwelling house

351(1) CC - Possession of Break and Enter Instruments

352 CC - Possession of Instruments for Breaking into Coin Devices

354(1) CC and 313(A) - Possession of property obtained by crime

355(A) CC - Possessions of property obtained by crime over $5,000

355(B) CC - Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

463-334(a) - Attempted robbery over $5000

463-344(b) - Attempted robbery under $5000

Fraud/Forgery/ Counterfeit related:

56.1 - Illegally possessing/making stolen identification documents

*326(1)(A) - Uttering Forged Document

368 - Uttering forged document [Also 326(1)(a)]

369(b) - Possession of instruments to be used to commit forgery


380(1)(a) - Fraud over $5,000

380(1)(b) - Fraud under $5,000

380(1)(B) - Attempted Fraud under $5000

393(3) CC - Fraudulently obtaining transportation

402.2(1) - Identity theft

450(b) – possession of counterfeit money

452 - Uttering Counterfeit Money

458 (d) – possession of counterfeiting instruments

463-380 - Attempted fraud

403 - Personation with intent

Administrative: 26 Youth Offenders Act - Fail to comply with disposition

*133(1) - Escape lawful custody

*133 (2) CC - Fail to Comply with Probation Order

*133(3)(B) - Fail to comply with recognizance

137 - Youth Justice Act - Fail to comply with sentence or disposition

145(1) - Unlawfully at Large

145(1)(A) - Escape lawful custody

145(5.1) - Failure to comply with conditions of undertaking given by officer

145(2) - Failure to attend court

145(3) - Failure to comply with recognizance

145(4) and (5) - Failure to appear

*156(3) Fail to comply with recognizance

*666(1) Fail to comply with Probation Order

733.1 - Failure to comply with probation order

742.6(9)(D) - Breach of a conditional sentence order

811 - Breach of recognizance

Prostitution-related:

213(1)(c) - Communication for the purpose of prostitution

Weapons/ Firearms related:

86(2) - Deal with firearm or restricted weapon contrary to regulations

85/87 - Possession of a weapon

88(1) - Possession of a prohibited weapon

90(1) - Carrying a concealed weapon

91 - Unauthorized possession of a firearm

92(1) - Possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized

95(1) - Possession of prohibited restricted firearm with ammunition

98(1) - Break, Enter and Steal a Firearm

117.01(1) Possession of Firearm or Ammunition contrary to Prohibition order

Assault related:

245 - Administering a noxious thing

264.1(A) Uttering threats

266 - Assault

267(1)(B) - Assault CBH

270(1)(A) - Assault a Peace Officer

279(1) - Forcible Confinement

Driving-related:

*242(4) and 259(4) Driving while disqualified

249(1)(a) - Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

249.1 (1) - Flight from Police

252(1) (B) CC - Fail to stop at the scene of an accident

253(1) - Operate a motor vehicle while impaired

253 (1)(B) - Driving with more than 80 mgs of alcohol in blood

259(4) CC - Driving while disqualified

335(1) Take motor vehicle without consent

Mischief and Disturbance-related:

*387 (4) (B) - Mischief to private property

430(1)(a) - Mischief

430 (3) - Mischief over $5,000

430(4) - Mischief

173(1)(A) CC - Indecent Act

175(1)(A)(I) - Causing a disturbance (by fighting, screaming, shouting, swearing, singing or using insulting or obscene language)

Obstruction-related:

*118(A) - Obstruction of a Peace Officer

129(A) - Obstruction

*From an earlier version of the Criminal Code.

released january 2016 16 -...

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